Sirturo

Sirturo is a medicine prescribed to treat tuberculosis when the disease has become resistant to certain other medications. It works by blocking an enzyme the bacteria need to survive and replicate. Side effects can include nausea, headaches, and joint pain. This medication comes as a tablet that is taken once a day for 2 weeks and then three times a week for 22 more weeks.

Interested in a Discount on Sirturo?

Our free DiscountRx savings card can help you and your family save money on your prescriptions. This card is accepted at all major chain pharmacies, nationwide. Enter your name and email address to receive your free savings card.

Enter Your Name

Enter Your Email Address

Our free DiscountRx savings card can help you and your family save money on your prescriptions. This card is accepted at all major chain pharmacies, nationwide. Enter your name and email address to receive your free savings card.

What Is Sirturo?

Sirturo™ (bedaquiline) is a prescription medication approved to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in combination with other tuberculosis medications. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is tuberculosis that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin (Rifadin®), two of the main drugs used to treat the disease. Sirturo is reserved for use in people who do not have other treatment options.

Who Makes This Medication?

Sirturo is made by Kemwell Pvt., Ltd., for Janssen Therapeutics.

How Does Sirturo Work?

Sirturo works by blocking an enzyme known as adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthase. This enzyme is essential for creating energy that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacteria that causes TB) needs to survive. By blocking this enzyme, Sirturo prevents the bacteria from getting the energy it needs to survive and replicate.

Clinical Effects

In clinical studies, Sirturo has been shown to rid the sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs) from M. tuberculosis. In these studies, people with multidrug-resistant TB were given either Sirturo or a placebo -- both treatments were taken along with other tuberculosis medications. Researchers then looked at how long it took the people to have sputum that did not contain M. tuberculosis.

In one study, people given Sirturo had sputum that was free from M. tuberculosis in 83 days, compared with 125 days for people taking a placebo. Also, 77.6 percent of those given Sirturo had M. tuberculosis-free sputum after 24 weeks of treatment, compared with 57.6 percent of those given a placebo.

eMedTV serves only as an informational resource. This site does not dispense medical advice or advice of any kind.
Site users seeking medical advice about their specific situation should consult with their own physician. Click
Terms of Use for more information.

You've chosen to add topics from the topic group to your selected topics.

Are you sure you want to add all of these topics?

Are You Sure?

You've chosen to clear all of your selected topics. Remember, you need at least one selected topic to use HealthSavvy. If you choose this option, it cannot be undone, and you'll need to choose at least new topic to continue using your HealthSavvy programs.